Flowers Gone By

It's been a more difficult end-of-the-year for school then I have been able to recall for a while, but I've been cleaning out my studio, discovering things that I don't need, things that I had forgotten I had and things that I have learned over the years. I never really have thought much about accumulated knowledge and understanding, but realize now how important it all is to allow a person to be who they truly are or even want to be. Everything dies, but to be as beautiful as a flower for such a short time might very well be worth that short time.

Flowers Close Up

We have bouquets of flowers all over the house and so yesterday during a moment of inspiration and amidst thoughts that seeing things closely can make them clearer, I got out some close-up filters and shot a few of the flowers in the dining room.

I worked on these a bit, adjusting color and sharpness as well as saturation and contrast. I also "touched up" some errant spots of "another color" and just tried to simplify some of the images. Here are four of many.

Jackson Again...

... given the somber mood at home recently with the death of Jen's younger sister and the way that Matthew "stepped up" and conducted himself during the graveside ceremony, Jackson was a resource of happiness for several of our family, and eased the sorrow and tension.

It's sometimes strange how we react to the situations that life puts us in, but somehow the innocence of youth pulls us together to define the context of where and who we really are and how we will continue to be. Here are four, untouched from the camera as I don't have the energy right now to do "tweaking" as it might be needed. Tomorrow will be some floral shots that I really worked for, what with close up lenses and diffused lighting and a tripod and all.

With that happy-go-lucky, not a care in the world face, Jackson says "bye-bye"!